WESSA Annual Review 2020

Once the lockdown restrictions have eased, WESSA Youth Volunteers will be able to engage in environmental activities again, using a gradual approach, while making sure all necessary precautions are in place and aligned with government regulations. This will enable us to continue making a meaningful world. Although it is a stressful time, it is also a time of opportunity and new perspectives; a time to appreciate the truly important things in life; a time to be grateful and give back; and a time to help our communities and each other. contribution to conserving our environment in a post-pandemic

Over the past year, we have seen the celebration of several landmark environmental days, including Earth Hour in March, and Earth Day and the City Nature Challenge in April. Friday the 5th of June marked World Environment Day 2020 which was celebrated under the theme Biodiversity #ForNature and was a highlight in everyone’s calendar. Restoring nature is critical for reversing the loss of biodiversity and sustaining a healthy planet. This will only be possible when we start to appreciate how crucial nature and biodiversity is for our own existence and quality of life. WESSA in partnership with United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP SA) harnessed the opportunities technology brings to mobilize youth to engage in a series of activities to enhance their understanding on the importance of nature . The highlight of these activities was a youth webinar held on World Environment Day (WED) under the theme: Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Change & Biodiversity Conservation and Land Restoration: From global ambition to local action. The 2-hour webinar featured a number of high-profile speakers speaking on the WED theme in a South African context. Youth were also invited to participate in a social media challenge to express their appreciation of nature by making videos, takings photos, and writing poetry. During COVID-19, the planet has delivered its strongest warning to date thathumanitymustchangeitsbehaviouranditsattitudetotheenvironment. The lockdown has been a short-term response to this warning. Only by building functioning economies that work with nature, not against it,

can the world’s nations thrive. While many of us have been self-isolating at home, let us reflect on what got us here, and what we can do going forward to ensure that our actions, and those of whom we can influence, are in harmony with nature.

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Annual Review 2019-2020

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